Warenghem Is known for its Armorik whisky range. Amazingly this distillery was founded back in the late 19th century and production of "Elixir D'Armorique" a plant liqueur which I understand is still sold today.  The range was expanded to include fruit liqueurs in 1919. In 1987 they created their first blended whisky and then, in 1998 The Aromorik single malt whisky was introduced to the range.

Distillery photos with kind permission of David Roussier, Warenghem

Armorik New Spirit

Typical cost of this bottle; Not available for purchase

Glass; Classic Malt

Colour; Clear, just like water

Nose: Fruity spirit, very fruity and very rich with massive amounts of plum and bramble. Lots of plum.

Palate: Much more of what the nose promised; lots of plum and bramble.

Finish; Very long

Overall Impression: heavy, rich, massive and lots of plum and bramble - as far as new spirit goes I love this.

Armorik Classic, 40% ABV

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass; Classic Malt

Colour; Pale yellow gold

Nose: Lots of vanilla here, then after a short time there's a faintly woody white wine-iness with a further fruitiness deep in the background. It's not quite the plum-iness from the new make, but not far away.

Palate: This initially has a slightly watery mouth-feel and offers lots of vanilla alongside distinct plum-iness. Plums in custard anyone?

Finish; Long creamy and fruity.

Overall Impression: Really very smooth and enjoyable.

Armorik Millésime 2002

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass; Classic Malt

Colour; Rich dark golden

Nose: This is filled with suggestions of leather, vanilla (that custard again) and even a hint of red wine. With more time in the glass it turns even more floral and fragrant. As even more time passes it develops a slight tinniness which is not bad, just interesting.

Palate: Smooth, creamy and fruity with a suggestion of cherries alongside the plums and bramble. This is good as the fruitiness of the new make is really evident here,

Finish; Long, creamy and fruity with cherry, plum and bramble.

Overall Impression: Nice, very nice as the fruitiness of the new spirit really shines through in a mature and civilised way.

Armorik Double Maturation, 46% ABV

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass; Classic Malt

Colour; Rich gold

Nose: Initially quite grassy and lightly farmy with a very low-key fruitiness developing slowly in the background. After some minutes it offers a suggestion of milk chocolate and also develops a lightly perfumed or floral character alongside the chocolate

Palate: Not quite so complex as the nose with a distinct lightly perfumed or floral trait alongside that milk chocolate.

Finish; Long and creamy.

Overall Impression: An ever-changing nose gives way to a simply good palate and is indeed a good whisky.

Armorik Sauternes Cask 8015, Cask Strength

Typical cost of this bottle; Unknown

Glass; Classic Malt

Colour; Shiny light amber

Nose: Fruity rubberiness or rubbery fruitiness? But all initially quite subdued and developing slowly to eventually include some hints of wood and leather which expand further with more time in the glass. This time the fruitiness is much lighter and more akin to apple, grape and honeydew melon.

Palate: Lots of fruity leatheriness and a distinctly creamy mouth-feel as a burst of butterscotch leads into the very long finish

Finish; Very long with a suggestion of butterscotch.

Overall Impression: Once again the palate is more distinct and much bolder than the nose. Overall another jolly good whisky.

Armorik Millésime 2002-2013

Advance cask 3300 sample, Cask Strength

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass; Classic Malt

Colour; Pale amber

Nose: Oooh, this is really a quite difficult one, or have I just reached my limit of samples for today? Anyway, I feel it needs time, lots of time. Hmmm, I like it but still can't describe it other than to say it's solid, rich and good, very good.

Palate: Rich and winey, slightly sweet but with a dry feel if that's possible.

With 5 drops of water: Now we have some polished notes on the nose, car polish or even wooden floor polish. Brasso too? There's now a slightly dry fruitiness spreading across the palate which offers hints of cherries and redcurrants with the slightest suggestion of black pepperiness.

Finish; Long, longer with water.

Overall Impression: The nose was really quite difficult but the variety on the palate personnifies what I couldn't describe. Be sure to add just a few drops of water for best results.